56

unexposed groups. The people appeared to have

less hypertension on the whole than is noted in
people in the continental United States.
An artaritis survey Showed no great differences be-

on the assimilation, excretion, and bodyburdenof
radionuclides.

tween the exposed and the unexposed people, and

amiurtations in 1959 and 1960 were, for the most

populations.

Medical histortes of the intervals between the ex-

part, uneventful and revealed no major epidemics
of disease. Several deaths had occurred and new
births were reported. In the exposed group, two
deaths occurred and in the unexposed group,
three. Two of the latter were due to influenza acquired during an epidemic on Kwajalein.
The four deaths that have occurred in the exposed people since exposure represent a mortaiity

rate of 8.1 per 1000 population, compared with 8.3
for the comparison population and 6.8 for the
Marshall Islands as a whole. A review of the birth

rate of the exposed group over the past 6 years

seems to indicate no noticeable effect of their expo-

sure on fertility. The 24 births represent a rate of

48 per 1000 population, compared with 37.3 for
the Marshall Islands (1957). The 20 births over a
3-year period for the comparison population represent a rate of 62 per 1000 population. A somewhat greater incidence of miscarriages and stillbirths
has been noted in the exposed women, but be-

cause of the paucity ofvital statistics in the Marshallese and the small numberof people involved,

the data are not readily amenable to statistical
analysis.

Physical examinations showed the exposed and the
unexposed people to be generally in a state of good

health. No diseases were noted that could be
directly related to radiation effects. The incidence
of various disorders in both adults and children

was about the same in the exposed and unexposed
groups.
In connection with growth and development studies,
a project on the verification of accuracy ofages of
the children has not been completed and,therefore, the suggestive evidence previously presented
of possible lag in statural growth in the exposed

children must await confirmation. It was notech

however, that in the 6-year chronological age
group, three boys and onegir! out offive boys and
two girls in the exposed group exhibited signifi-

cantly retarded skeletal maturation as judged by
X-ray examination. The birth dates of these children seemed to befairly well established.

about the same incidence as is seen in American

An ophthalmological survey showed no remarkable
differences between the exposed and unexposed
groups except possibly a slightly greater number

of cases of pterygii, pingueculae, and cornealscars

in the exposed group. It is not know whetherthis
finding is of any significance in relation to their

radiation exposure. Slit-lamp observations showed
no opacities of the lens characteristic of radiation

exposure. As a whole, visual and accomodation

levels in the Marshallese appeared to be above the
average in the U.S. population.
A dental survey showed nosignificant differences
in either caries rate or incidence of peridontaldisease between exposed and unexposed groups. The
poor oral hygiene generally observed in the Marshallese had its usual results, namely, high caries
rate in teen-age children, severe peridontal lesions
in adults (heavy calculus and loss of alveolar

bone), and edentulous mouthsin the aged. Radiation exposure did not appear to haveaffected developing dentition in the exposed children.
Late effects ofradiation. Various parameters usually
associated with aging were measured orestimated
on a 0 to ++ scale (skin looseness, elasticity, and

senile changes; greying of the hair and balding;
accomodation, visual acuity, and arcus senilis;

hearing; cardiovascular changesincluding blood
pressure and degrees of peripheral andretinal

arteriosclerosis; neuromuscular function; and

hand strength). Comparison of these measurements mn exposed and unexposed individuals of the
same age groups showed no apparent differences.
A biological age score was calculated for indiviuals
and groups by use of an average percentage score.
Life shortening effects of radiation have not been

apparent. As noted, the mortality rate was about
the same in the exposed as in the unexposed
people.
The one case of cancer that developed in the exposed group occurred at 5 years after exposure,

too soon, itis believed, to bear any particularrelation to radiation exposure. Leukemta surveys including physical findings, studies of white cell

A

gard to any possible late developingeffects of their
exposure, their hematological status, and the influence of the slightly contaminated environment

A cardiovascular survey of the adults showed no

outstanding differences between the exposed and

#

posed comparisaapopulation, particularly in re-

es ad
—
we -

Maen.
status of the people in relation to that of the unex-

e

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